Apparatus for closing of folding-boxlike packages filled with soft packings



July 1, 1969 H. BONGARTZ ETAL 5 ,5

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING OF FOLDING-BOXLIKE PACKAGES FILLED WITH SOFT PACKINGS Filed NOV- 15, 1966 United States Patent 3,452,515 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING OF FOLDING- BOXLIKE PACKAGES FILLED WITH SOFT PACKINGS Hans Bongartz, Dusseldorf-Unterrath, and Gunter Reinecke, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, assignors to Benz & Hilgers G.m.b.H., Dusseldorf, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 594,545 Claims priority, application 7Germany, Nov. 27, 1965,

39 Int. Cl. B65h 7/22 US. Cl. 53-376 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an apparatus for closing of folding-boxlike packages filled with soft packings, in general, and to such apparatus which is equipped with side flaps and closing flaps folded over each other on the end sides, which flaps are equipped with an insertion flap for insertion of the latter between the soft packing and the outer carton.

Apparatus for closing of packages is known, wherein the insertion of the insertion flap in the provided narrow slot between the soft packing and the outer carton is performed by a knife-like finger, which is introduced as a movement controlled member between the provided opening and which causes by an additional movement an enlargement of the slot. Now, the insertion flap already bent on the closing flap can be inserted without difficulty.

The tremendous constructive requirement for the controllable finger is a disadvantage, as well as the drawback that the closing member inserting the insertion flap can be withdrawn only after the finger has left the slot. A drawback of particular type resides in the fact that the knife-like finger does not enter with safety between the soft packing and the carton, rather abuts the soft packing and damages the latter. This is, first of all, to be expected in the bottom portion of the packing, where the weight of the soft packing presses on the carton. This known arrangement is only applicable in connection with closing machines, in which no high requirements are set for the expelling output.

In another closing device, two segment-like folders are moved simultaneously from both sides against the box or packing, whereby they fold over at first the side flaps, in order to slide then the actual closing flaps between themselves and a circular arc member in the direction towards the slot between the content and the edge of the package. As soon as the front piece of the closing flap has been inserted into the slot by means of the circular arc member, the folders are again withdrawn. The control and movement of these segment-like folders requires a great expenditure on construction means, while the packing output is by no means influenced thereby in advantageous manner.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for closing of folding box-like packages filled with soft packings, which apparatus not only operates reliably, but makes possible also an extremely short cycle sequence for the purpose of a high packaging output. First of all by the present invention the damaging of the soft packings should be avoided.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for closing of folding-boxlike packages filled with soft packings, wherein the box bottom is removable within the insertion range of the bottom side insertion flap by at least two suction members from the soft packings such, that an insertion slot of equal width is created disposed close to the corner of constant width. Due to the fact that the stroke of these suction members is adjustable, the insertion slot can obtain an optimum length in dependency from the size of the carton bottom to be removed and the strength and bending capacity of the carton.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of a folding box having a closing device and disposed crosswise to the advancing direction of the latter, prior to the lowering of the cardboard;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the folding box with a closing device after the removal of the carton bottom; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the closing device shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, the rectangular folding box 1 has been filled already at a difierent station with four soft packings 2 and then joined to form a hose-like formation. In the soft packings 2 the content consisting of plastic food or table luxury means, as for instance butter, margarine, soft cheese, ice cream or the like, as well as the packing material, consisting of paper, parchment or the like, are soft and yielding. In this position the folding box 1 is ejected from the packing machine and is transferred to a guide and transportation table 3 consisting of three ledges 3a, 3b and 30 for further treatment.

After the side flaps (not shown) disposed on the two end sides of the box 1 are folded over each other, a closing flap 1c and an insertion flap 1d connected with the latter are bent over so far, until these flaps assume the position shown in FIG. 1. The front edges of the two insertion flaps 1d are disposed directly in front of the insertion slots. Corresponding guide blocks 4 are provided, so that the insertion flaps 1d cannot break out beyond the carton edges. Without any particular difficulties the insertion flap 1d on the left side can be inserted by means of a slide 5 between the upper soft packing 2 and the upper carton wall, since, as it is known, the carton surrounds the content always with an overmeasure, whereby this overmeasure appears on the side opposite the supporting side as a wide slot, into which the insertion flap 1d can be inserted without damage to the soft packing 2.

As simple as may appear the insertion of the insertion flap 1d on the head side, as difiicult is the insertion of the bottom side insertion flap 1d, since the support of the soft packings 2 on the carton bottom 1b prevents any slot formation. If the insertion flap 1d, shown on the right side in FIG. 1, would be inserted in the same manner as the head sided insertion flap 1d on the left side in most instances a damaging of the soft packing can occur, and by compression of the insertion flap 1d a bad closing cannot be avoided.

In order, however, to provide that the bottom sided insertion flap 1d finds a slot, into which it can be inserted without damaging the soft packing, the carton bottom 1b is withdrawn downwardly within the insertion range from the soft packing 2 such, that a slot forming distance is created. For this purpose a downwardly angular bearing block 6 is secured to the ledge 30, vertical bores of the block 6 receiving two suction members 7, which comprise a suction pipe 7a and a suction member 7b. The suction tubes 7a terminate into a divider 8 the channel of which is connected with a vacuum conduit 9 entering from below. Finally, a pressure spring 10 surrounding the suction tube 7a is provided, which pressure spring 10 engages, on the one hand, the bearing block 6 and, on the other hand, the divider 8. By this arrangement the suction member 7b is kept spaced apart in a sufficient distance from the lower face of the package in its resting position. A pin 11 extends laterally from the divider 8, which-pin 11 is operated by means of a double-armed lever 12 controlled by a control cam 13 and swingable about a pivot point 12a. Suitably the end of the double lever 12 cooperating with the control cam 13 is formed with a follower roller 12b. The end of said double-armed lever 12 opposite the I roller 12b has a distancing member 14 equipped with a set screw 15 which is directed downwardly, which distancing member 14 engages an abutment member 16 in the inoperative position of the suction member 7b. When the movement-controlled cam 13 is displaced in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 2), the set screw 15 is lifted from the abutment 16, whereby the left arm of the double armed lever 12 moves the divider 8 upwardly by means of the pin 11, and, thereby the two suction members 712 against the force of the pressure springs 10. The suction members 7b subjected now to vacuum can be now secured by suction to the carton bottom 1b of the foldingbox and pull the carton bottom 1b downwardly upon releasing the double-armed lever 12 by the control cam 13 along a path up to the abutment 16. The insertion slot 17 is measured at its full width due to the application of the suction members 7b near the corners such that the insertion flap 1d can be inserted without difficulty by means of the slide 5 and without damage to the soft packings. In order to avoid that the ledge is within the path during spacing of the carton bottom 1b, the ledge 30 is equipped with a recess 23, which is larger than the maximum slot width.

As a matter of course, the same principle can be applied also to packages in which the size of the slot lengths requires a further, preferably intermediate, suction member in addition to the two suction members 7b. Care must be taken that the lowered carton bottom 1b does not form with the lower edge of the soft packings 2 the form of a more or less isosceles triangle. The assurance for an exact insertion of the insertion flap 1d is given onl when the insertion flap has a width remaining equally up to adjacent the corners.

We claim: 1. An apparatus for closing of folding-boxlike packages filled with soft packings, the packages having side flaps folded over each other on the end sides and closing fiaps including an insertion flap for insertion of the latter between the soft packing and the outer carton of the folding box, comprising a plurality of ledges adapted to support a package having a bottom, means for forming an opening slot between said package bottom and said soft packings comprising at least two suction means disposed intermediate said ledges substantially adjacent the corners of said package bottom said two suction means being operable to said package bottom from said soft packings within the range of insertion of the bottom side insertion flap, in order to provide an insertion slot of constant width adjacent a corner of said package. 2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim cludes a bearing block, and each of said suction means comprises a suction member and a suction tube displaceably guided in said bearing block, spring means urging said suction member away from said package bottom, a divider communicating with said suction tube, a vacuum conduit leading into said divider, said divider has a laterally projecting pin, and a double armed lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends, and control means for moving said pin by one of the arms of said lever against the force of said spring means. 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said double-armed lever has a downwardly directed spacing member equipped with a set screw, an abutment member disposed below said set screw,

and the latter varying the distance from said abutment member, and said distance corresponds with the working stroke of said suction members.

1, which in- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,264,798 8/1966 Hayes et al 53-474 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner. 

